There is a new novel out called The Commoner by John Burnham Schwartz. It is a thinly veiled narration of the life of the current Empress and her relationship with Masako and how the entire Imperial system has crushed their personalities. I have just begun reading it (it IS very well written) and I can only imagine how much heartburn this book is going to give the IHA. It takes up where the non-fiction book on Masako by Ben Hill leaves off.

This current book is so well done that one cannot help but wonder where the author got his insider information.

It's not surprising that the IHA has gone public with this news that the Crown Prince should visit his parents, the IHA has been trying for years to bypass Naruhito and go straight to Akishino as the next emperor, and now they are going public with their campaign.

I sometimes wonder when exactly the IHA will actually start this. It seems, based on what some people are saying, they already have. Since the IHA are trying so hard to push the Crown Prince couple out and install the Akishino couple in, they might as well ask the CP couple to step down and allow the Akishino couple take on the CP title, even though the current Crown Prince couple don't have any "official" reason to. I wouldn't be surprised if they actually went through with this.

To be honest, I think this (sibling rivalry) has gotten too far out of hand as it. And the IHA isn't helping, in terms of the Crown Prince's case. I wonder when this will all end.

I do hope that when the Crown Prince become's Emperor, he will actually "shakes things up" as he had hinted before.

The Emperor and Empress of Japan may shortly be forced to cut back on their official duties because both are apparently suffering from failing health.
Amid signs that the ruler of the Chrysanthemum Throne is no longer able to maintain his usually active schedule, the Emperor’s eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, said over the weekend that his parents needed “more time for rest...

Criticism is not bad when it was tought to change things that are going wrong. I don't think the Emperor , the Empress and Public Opinion are trying to harm the Heir and his wife. I suppose they are trying to help them showing which are the the things that could be bad for Monarchy and for Japan sake.

However, Their Majesties seems to be a little tired and ill. They are not as old than that, but they seems exhausted. I agree with the Crownprince: they need some rest. Nevertheless, I doubt that Prince Naruhito could be ready to assume his Imperial duties.

I'm praying for Japan . I love this country and I don't want that anything bad could strike this wonderful country.

I think that Naruhitos comment regarding his parents as "needing more time for rest" was a clear statement that he is agreeable to taking on more duties. The public statments that the members of the Imperial Family make are often subtle in their presentation but can be very pointed in their meaning. Instead of saying something along the lines of how he hoped that the Emperor and Empress would continue to carry out their duties as before, he is clearly stating that it is time for a change. Whether or not he is allowed to be part of that change is to be seen.

There is something wrong in the picture here. If Naruhitos and Masoko spend less time with his parent than his brother. As a parent why can the emperor just tell his son directly, instead the emperor make made a complain to the IHA then in turn the IHA made a complain out in the public. The IHA really went out of their to make the crown prince couple to be a bad "guy". The IHA are promoting the Akishino couple as how wonderful they are to his parents. And on top of it both Akishino and Kiko produce a son and an heir. I think there is a power struggle in the family. IMO the IHA wanted to push Naruhito out of the picture.

I think Al bina is correct in this. It is my understanding that the House Chamberlain of the Emperor and the Chamberlain of the Crown Prince handle all the communications between the two. It is they who are the ones to make the schedules for visiting and such.

Do you really believe what are you stating? You are exactly saying that the Crownprince cannot speak directly the the Emperor...His father. So; this mean that Prince Akishino couldn't speak directly to her father, either?

You may not believe, but it is the way things are done in the Imperial family

Actually, what I and kimebear have stated in the posts # 47 and 49 is absolutely true. The following is the excerpt from the article related to the ways the Emperor and Crown Prince communicate. “...
Indirect communication
To some it may not be clear why the Emperor cannot simply speak directly to the crown prince.
However, according to traditional imperial practices, the crown prince does not telephone the Emperor to make an appointment for a visit, and the Emperor does not offer advice to the crown prince.
Imperial Household Agency stewards make such arrangements for both sides and the grand steward is responsible for solving important problems.
…
There were 15 confirmed visits last year, including birthday parties for Imperial family members, top-spinning--a traditional event--rice planting and dinners.
Although the family of Prince Akishino are in somewhat different circumstances, he and his family visited the imperial couple about 45 times last year.
When the Emperor was crown prince and the Empress the crown princess, they used to visit the Imperial Palace once a week…”
Reference:
Shigeo Inoue, Masatoshi Imai, & Masayuki Ota (2008, February 24). Royal family dynamics complex/Imperial Household Agency chief's remarks hint at communication problem. Retrieved from http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20080224TDY03304.htmImperial

__________________"I never did mind about the little things"
Amanda, "Point of No Return"

Do you really believe what are you stating? You are exactly saying that the Crownprince cannot speak directly the the Emperor...His father. So; this mean that Prince Akishino couldn't speak directly to her father, either?

I repeat: do you BELIEVE IT?

Vanesa.

No that is not what I said. I said that the House Chamberlain for the Emperor and the House Chamberlain for the Crown Prince handle their scheduling. I never said anything about Prince Akishino. He is not the heir. The rules are different for him. There is a very long held and established protocol at the palace for the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Their lives are scheduled accordingly to this protocol. From his infancy Naruhito has been held separately from his siblings. It is the way of things. So yes, I BELIEVE IT.

No that is not what I said. I said that the House Chamberlain for the Emperor and the House Chamberlain for the Crown Prince handle their scheduling. I never said anything about Prince Akishino. He is not the heir. The rules are different for him. There is a very long held and established protocol at the palace for the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Their lives are scheduled accordingly to this protocol. From his infancy Naruhito has been held separately from his siblings. It is the way of things. So yes, I BELIEVE IT.

The rules are different in Japan then anything we know/take for granted here in the west.That is one thing.

The almighty,and gawd help it,omnipotent Kunaicho absolutely directs every second of the day and each and every member of the Imperial Family.Would anyone try to pull off what they pull off,we had them yanked and spanked all over the country,I tell you that.I have a name for them,but it would be considered bad language to some.

The Emperor should stop complaining,if he ever actually did and this is not some other Kunaicho bogus they are well known for if they do not get it their way too,his dear Empress Michiko has suffered so enormous under the dictatorship of that darned Kunaicho that she had several nervous breakdowns and also several times lost the ability to speak and to this day suffers stress related physical problems.
Thanks to the horrendous and absolutely inhuman conduct by the Kunaicho.

All the Emperor has been able to change thusfar is that the Imperial car will stop for a traffic light,and he has send the Imperial Poop researcher into an early retirement,honestly,that function existed untill Akihito became Emperor,I'm not making it up.

When McArthur claimed victory over Japan and left the Emperor in place,he forgot to clean up the most backward Japanese institution,the Kunaicho.

The Crown Princely Couple,well educated intellectuals that they are,might just be more then fet up with the constant mingling and nagging by those arrogant little creepy crawlies,(that's not name-calling is it?),and choose to do as they please as much as they possibly can,which isn't all that much to us,but a world of difference to them.A sort of protest against this way outdated and inhuman treatment by that institution.

Meanwhile,the Japanese can say what they like,I say they behave like lame cattle by letting this situation continue and not rise against it.There should be one with a big broom to totally clean-up that Court mess once and for all,and introduce freedom to the Imperial Family,
they wouldn't know what hit them probably,those poor poor people.

Akeshino and that wife of his are the Kunaicho's darlings,no doubt,they even had the sex of their latest offspring planned by the Kunaicho,
and now are the proud parents of the Heir Presumptive after Naruhito,and they let that be known,always thought that couple to be arrogant/backward,and I am not blind in that department.

To learn more on this compelling story/day to day way of live,may I suggest the new book by US Harvard educated author John Burnham Schwartz "The Commoner",as Caroline Mathilda suggested too earlyer in this thread. .

Prohibited in Japan,even tho the author changed the names of Michiko and Masako in Haruko and Keiko.The book is a bestseller among Japanese visitors to the US at present who softly/discretely ask for the book.

Oh,that Kunaicho gets me going allright.Them and their whale hunting for so called scientific reasons...yeah,bogus too,are what I absolutely "dislike" on that country.At all.But I think I made that clear.

I'm sorry but I don't understand why Japan is the one monarchy that still cringes at the idea of a woman ruling their country. In case they havn't notice this is the 21st century having a woman in power is not going to be the end of the Chrysanthemum dynasty. Hell the US might even have a woman running the country. This whole thing of the IHA trying to push Naruhito out of the way to make room for his brother is absolutely ridiculous theses old men need to open their old eyes and see that the people of Japan would support Aiko as Empress of Japan.

Actually, Japan isn't the one monarchy. You will never see a female monarch in Morocco, Bahrain, Saudia Arabia, Dubai, etc either. Why? Because it is the way of things in these countries. It is easy to say "change it", but we are talking about a tradition that goes back more than a thousand years. It is the Japanese people who need to decide if they want to change it, and they don't seem to be all that put out about it, frankly, so who are we to decide for them? For that matter, just to tease you a little as I see you are an American like me, when was the last time we had a female head of state? Also, with the Emperor acting as the religious head of the Japanese people, it would be a little like asking the Catholics to have a female pope. Its most likely not ever going to happen.

Actually, Japan isn't the one monarchy. You will never see a female monarch in Morocco, Bahrain, Saudia Arabia, Dubai, etc either. Why? Because it is the way of things in these countries. It is easy to say "change it", but we are talking about a tradition that goes back more than a thousand years. It is the Japanese people who need to decide if they want to change it, and they don't seem to be all that put out about it, frankly, so who are we to decide for them? For that matter, just to tease you a little as I see you are an American like me, when was the last time we had a female head of state? Also, with the Emperor acting as the religious head of the Japanese people, it would be a little like asking the Catholics to have a female pope. Its most likely not ever going to happen.

Living in a Monarchy where a female Head of State has been/still is,a "rule" instead of an exception for over 100 years.

Btw,There has been a female Pope in medieval times,but that was not revealed till right after she passed away,must have been a shocker,no-one had any idea that he was a she...Pope Joanna....

Japan will not see an Empress Aiko for a whole lot of different sets of reasons then why there won't be a female ruler in any of the other states you mentioned.
The previous japanese PM was well on his way to change,but conservative forces are gaining momentum in Japan again,as he found out.
In some circles that goes as far as having pre-WWII ideas/plans,if you catch my drift.True.

Actually, Japan isn't the one monarchy. You will never see a female monarch in Morocco, Bahrain, Saudia Arabia, Dubai, etc either. Why? Because it is the way of things in these countries. It is easy to say "change it", but we are talking about a tradition that goes back more than a thousand years. It is the Japanese people who need to decide if they want to change it, and they don't seem to be all that put out about it, frankly, so who are we to decide for them? ... [snipped]

You are quite right... Japan is a well-developed industrial country with values, norms and traditions that have not changed much overtime. The background has become different (skyscrapers, high tech gadgets, changes in fashion tastes). However, the very essence of lifestyle has not changed much. It is only the Japanese, who can take steps in altering some aspects of their current way of life.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucien

[snipped]
Btw,There has been a female Pope in medieval times,but that was not revealed till right after she passed away,must have been a shocker,no-one had any idea that he was a she...Pope Joanna....[snipped]
The previous japanese PM was well on his way to change,but conservative forces are gaining momentum in Japan again,as he found out...[snipped]

Well... Pope Joanna was known as a male to the outer world. If otherwise, she would have been quietly quickly removed.
PM Koizumi did attempt to resolve the heir crisis, but his endeavours were promptly crippled by mighty IHA, which made the Imperial family produce the desired child. That says it all...

__________________"I never did mind about the little things"
Amanda, "Point of No Return"

Exactly. I don't think that many "royal watchers" in the western world realize how much the state religion of Shintoism comes into this. To understand much about Japanese culture, a person really should read up on those beliefs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimebear

Also, with the Emperor acting as the religious head of the Japanese people, it would be a little like asking the Catholics to have a female pope. Its most likely not ever going to happen.

You are quite right... Japan is a well-developed industrial country with values, norms and traditions that have not changed much overtime. The background has become different (skyscrapers, high tech gadgets, changes in fashion tastes). However, the very essence of lifestyle has not changed much. It is only the Japanese, who can take steps in altering some aspects of their current way of life.

Well... Pope Joanna was known as a male to the outer world. If otherwise, she would have been quietly quickly removed. PM Koizumi did attempt to resolve the heir crisis, but his endeavours were promptly crippled by mighty IHA, which made the Imperial family produce the desired child. That says it all...

Indeed,like you say;"that says it all".The more you read about it and attempt to even comprehend how/what it must be like for the IF,
and more specifically TIH The Crown Prince and Crown Princess,the more I come to realize it is one of the most saddest stories on living souls.Imprisoned in a golden cage indeed,with a stainless steel lock,the IHA.

No that is not what I said. I said that the House Chamberlain for the Emperor and the House Chamberlain for the Crown Prince handle their scheduling. I never said anything about Prince Akishino. He is not the heir. The rules are different for him. There is a very long held and established protocol at the palace for the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Their lives are scheduled accordingly to this protocol. From his infancy Naruhito has been held separately from his siblings. It is the way of things. So yes, I BELIEVE IT.

It seems to me that concerning their communication we have to make a difference between Akihito and Naruhito as private persons, father and son, on one hand and tenno and togu (=crown prince) on the other hand. (Funny as that may sound.) And we have to be aware that they are basically the first generation in the imperial family of which it actually makes sense to speak of both sorts of relationship between emperor and crown prince. Naruhito – as rigid as his education has been – is the first Japanese crown prince ever to grow up in his own family. His father had been taken away from his parents when he was three years old – and he had been allowed to stay with them that long only because his mother had been strictly resolved to keep this long awaited son as long as she could – and, maybe, because she was the empress and not just a concubine as the mothers of all nine emperors before Hirohito. (Normally, Japanese crown princes were taken away from their mothers when they were only a few months old. It is just an idea of mine but I suppose that only in this way it could be guaranteed that the tenno would remain a puppet in the hands of those who held the real power in the country.) However, Hirohito was separated from his parents at the age of three, and from that day on lived in a palace by himself (with a lot of servants, of course). There was a special room in the palace where pictures of his parents hung. And every morning the little prince went into this room to bid his parents` pictures a respectful “Good morning”, and every evening again to say them “Goodnight”…

He later told Michiko that he had felt so lonely that he was resolved not to die before he could marry and be part of a family again. Michiko was very moved when he told her the sad story of his childhood and decided to establish “a warm family”. And so Akihito and Naruhito are the first generation who are in our (commoner´s) sense really father and son. But they are this only so far as they “privately” decide to be that. The structures they live in do not support it in the least. The emperor cannot just take the telephone and say: “Oh come over, Naru-chan”. All this has to be carefully organized by the executives on duty, a bit as if the heads of two different countries were to meet. All the established rules for their interaction are basically rules for strangers meeting.

Of course, once they are together nobody can basically hinder them from saying whatever they want - if they decide to do so. In the book I am doing the summary of (see “A German book about princess Masako”, especially: “Too much consideration”) it is said that in the first time after Naruhito´s marriage emperor and empress often expressed their wishes by telling him: “Naru-chan, do make a child quickly!” – a fairly informal sentence obviously… (I have left this detail off in the summary.) That they later stopped talking is owing to something that also commoners know: when there is a conflict and people do not get along well together they stop talking, or at least they stop talking about the “dangerous points”. But if these people do not happen to be members of the Japanese imperial family they will usually have a tradition in the family of (for example) father and son quarreling and later making up, they will be surrounded by people who say: “You are members of the same family, make peace.”, they can just go visit the other when they feel they are in a peaceful mood (which, as was already said, the emperor and the crown prince cannot). And they won´t for certain not have the whole world watching their conflict and trying to make out who is the guilty one…

Between Fumihito and his parents exist less formal difficulties, and he has certainly grown up in a less restricted way than the crown prince. But even he was, before his marriage, sometimes for the executives of the kunaicho as well as for his parents, “uncontrollable” (so the book reports). There certainly also had been a certain distance between him and his parents that was overcome by his marriage and by his having children. We see again: the members of the imperial family do not know “how to make a family” in a commoner´s sense, as they just do not have this tradition. It were their commoner wives who brought this “know-how” into the family.

The only difference between the brothers was (if we simplify a bit) that Fumihito before his marriage had had as much liberty as to allow him to be “naughty” (and he would never have had a chance anyway to beat his “good brother-model of excellence for the whole nation” Naruhito) and now was looking for a wife who would help him fulfill his secret desire of being once in his life the good, the brave and the chosen son… While Naruhito wanted a wife who would help him to get out of the cage of the “good boy” and who would support him in expressing his secret ideas and visions…